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Activities
Craignish is ideally placed for a holiday which caters for a diverse range of interests and ages. On the peninsula itself, walking, sailing, fishing and riding are probably the most popular activities, however for those visitors with a car, there are museums, historical buildings and wildlife centres, all within easy reach.
Outdoor Activities
Walking
Although there are no very high hills, there is still very good walking on the peninsula, with plenty of tracks. Decent foot wear is essential and unless the weather is very settled, waterproof clothing is advised, as the weather can change very suddenly.
It takes about one hour to walk from one side of the peninsula to the other, each side giving rise to spectacular views. From the west coast, the islands of Shuna, Luing, Scarba, Jura and Mull may all be seen and when conditions are right, the sunsets can be breathtaking. The smaller islands of Loch Craignish are visible from the east and in clear weather, looking north, the twin peaks of Ben Cruachan appear at the head of the loch.
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In the middle of the peninsula there is a mixture of wild, open moorland, fields grazed by cattle and sheep, the occasional freshwater loch and forest, all of which offer different types of walks. Views of the sea are never far away, and from higher land the panoramic views are magnificent.
Sailing
There is wonderful sailing round this part of the coast and plenty of safe anchorages, however the tides can run very fast at times, the weather can change very suddenly and the hills and lochs can sometimes create unexpectedly strong winds, so care must always be taken.
There are marina facilities at both Ardfern and Craobh Haven, where boats may be launched and recovered. For those people who like to lie to an anchor, but who want to be near ‘civilisation’, Loch Craignish Lagoon, on the east side and Lunga Bay, on the west, are sheltered from most winds and provide easy access to Ardfern and Craobh Haven, respectively. Admiralty Chart no. 2326 ‘Loch Crinan to the Firth of Lorne’ covers this area, as does the Clyde Cruising Club publication ‘Kintyre to Ardnamurchan’. These and other charts and pilot books may be obtained from Ardfern Yacht Centre or Craobh Haven Marina.
Canoeing
The coastline round the peninsula is ideal for canoeing. Distances from the mainland to some of the islands are quite short, making exploration easy. Visitors should provide their own canoes, as there are none for hire, locally.
Riding
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Lunga Riding Stables, which is situated on the beautiful Lunga estate, on the west side of the peninsula, is open throughout the year and caters for all levels of equestrian ability. On offer are group, private or lunge lessons: natural ground training; schooling on the all-weather arena round pen with gymnastic jumping lane or over outlying cross-country jumps; Peaceful hacks or day-rides with cameras and picnic bags.The Appaloosas and part-bred American Quarterhorses are bred and trained on the estate. At least one qualified leader accompanies the riders.
Fishing
Sea fishing around the coast is, of course, free. There are brown trout in the freshwater lochs on the Lunga Estate and daily or weekly permits for fishing, together with a map showing the location of the lochs, may be obtained from Ardfern Village Store (01852 500298)
Mackerel lures, spinners, hand lines and some fishing flies, are available in the two local chandleries (together with children’s shrimping nets!). Craobh Village Store also carries a good selection of fishing tackle.
Boat trips
Fŕrsain Cruises operates out of Craobh Haven and takes visitors out to the Corrievreckan, as well as to some of the surrounding islands. Ring 01852 500664. M.V. Sea Leopard (www.craignishcruises.co.uk) also runs regular trips from Ardfern Yacht Centre. Ring 0845 397 9824 or mobile 0774 702 3038.
Places to visit
There are plenty of interesting places to visit within easy reach of Ardfern and Craobh Haven and the following are only a few suggestions.
For those people interested in the archaeology of the area, Kilmartin House Museum (01546 510278), which is situated in the middle of Kilmartin village, 11 km south of Ardfern, is a mine of information and fascinating artifacts. A whole day could be spent at The Slate Islands at Easdale, about 10 miles south of Oban , where the Easdale Island Museum and the Slate Islands Heritage centre provide a fascinating insight into the industrial past..
The Scottish Sealife Sanctuary at Barcaldine, just north of Oban and Auchindrain Open Air Museum, just south of Inveraray are good places to visit with children, while adults should enjoy a tour of Oban distillery (01631 562110).
For further details of these and other attractions in the area, call at the Tourist Information Centre in Oban (01631 563122 - all year) or Lochgilphead( seasonal).
